Review: Maven M.1 Monocular

Conventional wisdom says that after a good rifle, quality optics are the second-most important element of a big-game hunter's kit. I would argue the opposite, that good glass takes the top slot: if you can't find the animals, you can't shoot them. Which is why I never hunt without top-of-the-line binos—except when I'm going light & fast, in which case I opt for the Maven M.1 Monocular. For example, when crawling through sagebrush, creeping up on keen-eyed antelope, binos either bounce around or add bulk in a chest rig, making me less mobile and more easily detected. But the M.1 tucks right into my pocket, so I can rise up for a quick scan and then continue my sneak unencumbered. On non-hunting days, the M.1 stays in my glovebox, for quick magnification of both bird and beast. It also makes great backup glass, for impromptu hunts or when a friend forgets his binos.

Maven made its name offering top-tier products at a much lower pricepoint, due to the company's direct-to-consumer model, and the M.1 is no exception—quality glass, excellent ergonomics, and astounding clarity elevate this monocular above most of my friend's binos, even some of their spotting scopes. Yep, the M.1—and Maven in general—is that good.

Available at mavenbuilt.com; $450.

Reviewer update: After a few weeks in the field with this bad boy, I was so impressed with the quality that I bought a bino clamp from Aziak Equipment and put the M.1 on my lightweight Aziak tripod, for a compact, lightweight spotting scope. Yes, the Maven monocular is that good — now I'm lusting after their M.2 12x50 version, which might render my full-sized Vortex spotting scope obsolete. It's got greater magnification, sure, but it's shaky and sensitive, while the Maven monocular is smooth and stable.